help wanted

Ok, so I took the leap and bought a camera and I have no idea how to use it beyond "Auto" mode!  Can you guys please help? Any tips would be greatly appreciated!!!

changin' it up

Way before we moved, I posted an inspiration board for my daughter's "big girl room".  Here is a refresher...

I even bought all the bedding from Land of Nod and was all set until I bought the Mary McDonald book and I saw this...

via/ designer : mary mcdonald

I was obsessed with the navy and hot pink as soon as I laid eyes on this picture!  So, a whole new scheme came into my mind and I went with it!

Here's what I have as of right now (it is definitely in the beginning phases, so be kind! And also please ignore the toys!Oh and the bed rails...I guess I am really keeping it real and not getting all that out of the shot!)--

 

My husband and I made the upholstered headboard over a weekend and everyone was right when I blogged about building or buying a headboard, building one really wasn't all that hard and wasn't too expensive! All it took was plywood, foam, batting, and a few yards of fabric.  The fabric was the most expensive thing we bought for it, only because I knew exactly what I wanted. I bought 3 yards of Robert Allen "Jaden" in the Ink colorway. It's a cotton blend and has a linen-like appearance. I am still in search of a pink & white graphic fabric to make a large sham for her bead. I am also planning on using the extra navy fabric we have  to make a bolster with pink Greek Key trim.  I also need to add some valances over her windows to dress it up a bit.


While bumming around the other day, I found this cute painting for over her dresser! The colors are right and she always talks about New York City and going there just like her mommy does :)

house tour

Ok, finally what you guys have been asking for!! A mini tour of my house! I am showing the rooms that I am going to be focusing on right now.  It's amazing how sparse our house looks! We only have the major furniture items, nothing on the walls, no lamps, etc.  It's driving me crazy but I know I really want to take my time and find the perfect pieces for each space. I want a layered home that looks truly cultivated with things that represent me and my family rather than a place that looks like I went on a one day shopping spree to Home Goods. Don't get me wrong, Home Goods is definitely a trip in my future!

I will start with the entry.  Right now, I have a console there and a mirror that I am still debating in that location.  Thinking maybe a cool piece of art would be really great right there. I also have a Jill Rosenwald runner I bought before we moved in. Again, not sure if that's it's final resting place or if I may move it to a hallway...

 

Lil' Miss Thang didn't want to miss her shot in front of the camera...here she is striking a pose at the front door.

Now onto the dining room...
We hung the clock that was in our old home and I like but I know it definitely needs more on that wall. I was thinking maybe hanging plates in a gallery-like fashion but not sure yet. Again, the clock may go when I start working on this room.  I do have a great pair of chocolate brown velvet draperies that I am going to try on the window.  I also need to explain the random linen chair in the corner. We bought two of those as host chairs but I made a rookie mistake and forgot about the trestle base not allowing me to push them all the way in. So, they kinda stick out and make it hard to get around the table. I moved one into the breakfast nook and this is it's mate, just hanging out in a corner.

The living room is at the top of my priority list! It needs a side table, lamp, and accessories. I have a few fabrics picked out for throw pillows and I am also debating adding white linen draperies along the french doors.  Ps...forgive the Christmas tree. I am happy to report that it is now down :)

And, yes in the background of the photo is my kitchen and breakfast nook.  The kitchen is probably my favorite part of the house. It was perfect for the holidays! I didn't feel left out while I was cooking and I had plenty of prep space. The nook is almost done. I just need a piece of art for the recessed wall and throw pillows along the built in bench.

I am proud to say there is one space that is done with the exception of a rug and some art adjustment...the guest bathroom! Hey, an accomplishment is an accomplishment!  I would like a small antique rug for in there and I need to move the pictures above the toilet up.  I want to add a shelf for above the toilet and the art is too low regardless. The pictures are pretty cool though. They are duck stamps that my husband's grandmother collected for him and I had them re-framed as a birthday gift.

Ok, so there's a peek into some of the rooms!  I absolutely love this house! It fits my family so well, not too fussy and it is warm and inviting the minute you walk in. I am so excited to see how I am going to be able to transform this place over time and truly make it my dream home!

One room you didn't see today will be up in a post later this week.  I wanted to save my daughter's room to have a separate post so stay tuned!

monday musing

 

via

This is a great "musing" and one that I am making my motto for 2012! I feel like I spent most of last year worrying about the things that don't matter and it took a toll on the things that do, family and friends.  I have a tendency to stress out about every last thing at work which can be good sometimes but it can't be every minute of my life.  I have made a resolution to keep work at work. No more email alerts, which keeps me from checking my phone after I get home. No more responding to client's text messages after work hours (which in turn creates an expectation that you are always available which we obviously can't be).  Ok, sorry for the rant!

Happy Monday ya'll!!  And, look out for tomorrow's post...a mini-tour of the new house!

i'm still here

Yes, I am still here! Even though I have been very absent on the blogosphere for quite some time!  Nothing could have prepared me for how much of a fiasco moving into a new home could be and throw in Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I was a million different directions! Needless to say, I couldn't have made it through without red wine...L.O.T.S. of red wine.

I thought I would give you guys a run-down of what I have been up to since I last blogged!

We moved into our new house! Yay! We got the certificate of occupancy on November 15th and it was full steam ahead to get moved in before Thanksgiving.  A brand new house doesn't mean it doesn't come with it's little quirks and problems and I think it's safe to say after almost 6 weeks of people coming in and out to fix minor things, the house is perfect!

And to make things crazier, I flew up to Memphis to run in the St. Jude Half Marathon the first weekend of December.  That has to go down as one of the best races I have ever run! Such a great cause and because my team and I raised money for the hospital, we got to tour the facility the day before the race. What an amazing place!! I could seriously go on forever about this place! A very worthy cause and I urge everyone to donate whenever they can!!!

December has been a complete blur!  My daughter was out of school for two weeks so I didn't get much accomplished on the work front but I thoroughly enjoyed being home with her.  Christmas came and Santa brought her a beautiful new swingset!  Santa had a very special elf that helped him a.k.a. Daddy and I am pretty sure we are never ordering a swingset for any present ever again! Took him a week of putting it together after work and he is definitely my hero for doing so!

I joined the club and got an iPhone for Christmas and I am in love with it! I also ponied up and bought a "fancy" camera so I can take better pictures for my blog. Which means I better get back to blogging!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and I look forward to being back better than ever in 2012!!